Kansas vs North Carolina championship - Monday night 9:20pm ET, TBS

[Ell Curry]

So, who will be this years Kemba, Napier type of guy? Known talent, but has great run, shows leadership, probably wins it all, jumps way up in the rankings?

I think Jaime Jacquez would have been my choice, but he's struggling with injuries.

Collin Gillespie maybe, if Villanova makes the title game.

[bwgood77]

I just read an ESPN piece about reseeding the Sweet 16 and they had Kansas as overall #2 (2nd #1 seed) and AZ the 3rd #1 seed. But they had Houston, AZ's next opponent as the 4th #1 seed out of the 16.

Also on the ESPN matchup predictor, it shows Houston at 60.8% chance of winning and AZ only at 39.2%, though AZ is favored by 2.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401408622

Probably doesn't help AZ the game is in San Antonio. Houston also just beat Illinois by 15 (AZ beat them by 4) and also Houston beat Memphis (who nearly beat Gonzaga) in their conference championship by 18.

I do think a close game scare may help AZ be more focused and clean up their rebounding issues. Hopefully they shoot better.

This has to be the toughest matchup for a top 3 seed in the Sweet 16.

538 gives Houston a 52% chance of winning. https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-march-madness-predictions/

[Antti22]

Is Kerr on Zona the coaches son

Man Arizona is such a bad team besides their top 3 players... but man those 3 are all future NBA players, and I think good ones. Terry has a ways to go, but BM and Koloko are ready right now..

All that said I'm not betting on Zona to win it all, I actually bracketed them to lose in the S16. But I watch all Pac12 teams way too much so I might be overcriticizing them

The PG Kriisa had to be hurt, taking only 3s. And Tubelis is normally a solid PF type who finds a way to get easy buckets running the floor and off cuts and such, but he was terrible and got benched.

Terry looks like a lot a Raptor type, eh? Big ballhandler, good defender, developing shooter. If he comes out he might well be there at 33...

Kriisa had a really bad ankle sprain just a few weeks ago and was initially deemed out of the tournament/out for season. They did do some magic to get him back, but he was clearly out of his normal game rhythm. Doubt he will shoot 1/10 again. And when he gets on a roll he is a huge part of AZ success.

[AbeVigodaLive]

So, who will be this years Kemba, Napier type of guy? Known talent, but has great run, shows leadership, probably wins it all, jumps way up in the rankings?

Collin Gillespie maybe, if Villanova makes the title game.

Meh. He's a poor man's Ryan Arcidiacono.



[Edit: Oh. My bad. Turns out they're the same person. Who knew!]

[cursedsportsfan]

I just read an ESPN piece about reseeding the Sweet 16 and they had Kansas as overall #2 (2nd #1 seed) and AZ the 3rd #1 seed. But they had Houston, AZ's next opponent as the 4th #1 seed out of the 16.

Also on the ESPN matchup predictor, it shows Houston at 60.8% chance of winning and AZ only at 39.2%, though AZ is favored by 2.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401408622

Probably doesn't help AZ the game is in San Antonio. Houston also just beat Illinois by 15 (AZ beat them by 4) and also Houston beat Memphis (who nearly beat Gonzaga) in their conference championship by 18.

I do think a close game scare may help AZ be more focused and clean up their rebounding issues. Hopefully they shoot better.

This has to be the toughest matchup for a top 3 seed in the Sweet 16.

538 gives Houston a 52% chance of winning. https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-march-madness-predictions/

I was really close to going to San Antonio with my dad. But with everything going on we decided to hold off. I read Houston is one of the best if not the best offensive rebounding teams in the country. That's a little concerning considering what happened against TCU. Granted most of those were given up in the last 8 minutes or so.

My main concern though is I think we (Arizona) are missing another ball handler.

Then if we beat Houston we get the pleasure of playing Nova. Why cant we be in the place of Kansas

[Ell Curry]

So, who will be this years Kemba, Napier type of guy? Known talent, but has great run, shows leadership, probably wins it all, jumps way up in the rankings?

Collin Gillespie maybe, if Villanova makes the title game.

Meh. He's a poor man's Ryan Arcidiacono.



[Edit: Oh. My bad. Turns out they're the same person. Who knew!]

He's definitely got more offensive game than Arcidiacano. I think he might stick in the league as a backup PG.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Collin Gillespie maybe, if Villanova makes the title game.

Meh. He's a rich man's Ryan Arcidiacono.



[Edit: Oh. My bad. Turns out they're the same person. Who knew!]

He's definitely got more offensive game than Arcidiacano. I think he might stick in the league as a backup PG.

Edited for accuracy.

[Larry_Russell]

who is winning it all? gonzaga? kansas? purdue?

Duke

[BoatsNZones]

who is winning it all? gonzaga? kansas? purdue?

Duke

Don't have the D or frankly the coaching. Not being sarcastic.

I am 100% bought in on Chet at this point btw. Rare to see a player (especially a big) constantly moving and creating positive opportunities on both ends the way he does. I can already tell that he is going to dominate in impact metrics by year 2 after he puts on a little strength and starts to figure out the NBA game. I just pray the Kings don't get him.

[Duke4life831]

who is winning it all? gonzaga? kansas? purdue?

Duke

Don't have the D or frankly the coaching. Not being sarcastic.

I am 100% bought in on Chet at this point btw. Rare to see a player (especially a big) constantly moving and creating positive opportunities on both ends the way he does. I can already tell that he is going to dominate in impact metrics by year 2 after he puts on a little strength and starts to figure out the NBA game. I just pray the Kings don't get him.

Duke's defense is more than good enough to win the championship. Duke's biggest question mark is can Mark Williams stay out of foul trouble (if not then their D becomes a question mark) and whether guys like Trevor Keels and Paolo can go long enough with keeping with a ball moment offense and not try and go hero ISO ball too often.

[SkyHookFTW]

Duke

Don't have the D or frankly the coaching. Not being sarcastic.

I am 100% bought in on Chet at this point btw. Rare to see a player (especially a big) constantly moving and creating positive opportunities on both ends the way he does. I can already tell that he is going to dominate in impact metrics by year 2 after he puts on a little strength and starts to figure out the NBA game. I just pray the Kings don't get him.

Duke's defense is more than good enough to win the championship. Duke's biggest question mark is can Mark Williams stay out of foul trouble (if not then their D becomes a question mark) and whether guys like Trevor Keels and Paolo can go long enough with keeping with a ball moment offense and try and go hero ISO ball too often.

I wouldn't be shocked to see Villanova in there again. Jay Wright is one heck of a coach.

[Duke4life831]

Don't have the D or frankly the coaching. Not being sarcastic.

I am 100% bought in on Chet at this point btw. Rare to see a player (especially a big) constantly moving and creating positive opportunities on both ends the way he does. I can already tell that he is going to dominate in impact metrics by year 2 after he puts on a little strength and starts to figure out the NBA game. I just pray the Kings don't get him.

Duke's defense is more than good enough to win the championship. Duke's biggest question mark is can Mark Williams stay out of foul trouble (if not then their D becomes a question mark) and whether guys like Trevor Keels and Paolo can go long enough with keeping with a ball moment offense and try and go hero ISO ball too often.

I wouldn't be shocked to see Villanova in there again. Jay Wright is one heck of a coach.

Ya I honestly wouldnt be shocked to see any of these Sweet 16 teams make it to the championship. There really is no heavy favorite in this year's field. Like as a Duke fan, Im much more worried about Texas Tech than I am Gonzaga or Arkansas. Texas Tech defense is ridiculously good and that could carry them to a championship. Hell I hate to say it, but it wouldnt shock me to see UNC make it to the championship. When their guards are making shots, that is a very hard team to slow down with Bacot inside and Manic being a crazy elite sharpshooting big.

And ya Jay Wright is the definition of an elite coach and they may not have any elite NBA talent, but damn they got some damn good college players.

[bwgood77]

Duke's defense is more than good enough to win the championship. Duke's biggest question mark is can Mark Williams stay out of foul trouble (if not then their D becomes a question mark) and whether guys like Trevor Keels and Paolo can go long enough with keeping with a ball moment offense and try and go hero ISO ball too often.

I wouldn't be shocked to see Villanova in there again. Jay Wright is one heck of a coach.

Ya I honestly wouldnt be shocked to see any of these Sweet 16 teams make it to the championship. There really is no heavy favorite in this year's field. Like as a Duke fan, Im much more worried about Texas Tech than I am Gonzaga or Arkansas. Texas Tech defense is ridiculously good and that could carry them to a championship. Hell I hate to say it, but it wouldnt shock me to see UNC make it to the championship. When their guards are making shots, that is a very hard team to slow down with Bacot inside and Manic being a crazy elite sharpshooting big.

And ya Jay Wright is the definition of an elite coach and they may not have any elite NBA talent, but damn they got some damn good college players.

Maybe we can get a rematch of AZ's last trip to the finals...I thought they had the better team, but of course that's coming from a biased AZ fan....though Gilbert Arenas didn't come through in that game. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/2001-04-02-arizona.html

Of course in their next (last) tourney meeting AZ took business of the team with Kyrie, Curry and the Plumlee brothers (and Kyle Singler of course)...off a huge game from Derrick Williams who ended up a bust in the draft. They also had the reliable Solomon Hill.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore/_/gameId/310830150

Though actually I'm just praying AZ makes it past Houston tonight. I don't feel good about it.

[Stan]

Lmao, anyone see this on ESPN?

[bwgood77]

Damn, both these teams are shooting 37.5% overall and 23.5% from 3. Not good. (Ark/Gonzaga)

[bradybunch]

Holmgren isn't allowed to play defense.

Absolutely terrible officiating.

Sad.

[ElectricMayhem]

I'm still not as high as everyone is on Holmgren as a prospect, but he is getting hosed by the refs on both ends of the court.

[BoatsNZones]

These college refs DO understand that there will be body contact on drives, correct? Chet just got fouled out on 3 absurd fouls. Took him out for the last 8 minutes of the first half as well. I guess they want him to turn around and run away from the offensive player initiating contact? That's disgraceful.

[GeorgeSears]

That's a bad call. Game over.

[DavidSterned]

Not sure why the NCAA is apparently so deep in the pocket of Arkansas, of all schools....